Flexible and Adjustable Fastener

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a closure device for flexible and adjustable fastening between two edges located opposite or crosswise, in particular for footwear, clothing, textile, leathercraft and sportswear, consisting of at least one tongue ( 5 ) and two edges ( 1, 2 ), the tongue ( 5 ) being provided with a hook-and-loop textile ( 7 ) and being linked to a first edge ( 2 ). The invention is characterized in that an elastic portion ( 9 ) is fixed at an anchoring portion ( 8 ) beneath aid first edge ( 2 ), and the other longitudinal end of the elastic portion ( 8 ) is secured to the tongue ( 5 ), and in that the free portion of the tongue ( 5 ) emerges outward of the first edge ( 2 ) through a buttonhole or an outer slot ( 4 ) provided in said first edge ( 2 ), such that by pulling on said tongue ( 5 ), the traction exerted on the tongue ( 5 ) causes an extension of the elastic portion ( 9 ), enabling the tongue ( 5 ) to be extended outside the slot ( 4 ), and to be applied and secured by simple pressure on a complementary catching portion ( 8 ) of an indentation ( 3 ) of one of the two edges ( 2, 1 ), and in that the anchoring portion ( 8 ) beneath said first edge ( 2 ) is arranged at a distance such that it enables a sufficient length of tongue ( 5 ) to be provided beneath said first edge ( 2 ), and in that the elastic portion ( 9 ) should be spaced apart from the slot ( 4 ) in rest position beneath the first edge ( 2 ), so that upon a maximum pull on the elastic portion ( 9 ), the invisible portion of the tongue ( 5 ) located beneath the edge ( 2 ) extends outside the slot ( 4 ) while the elastic portion ( 9 ) neither shows nor passes through the slot ( 4 ), such that the extension of the tongue ( 5 ) enables the fastener to be readily and conveniently and adjusted.

The present invention concerns a closing device that is simple to use and adjust, and can be adapted for any support or closure that must not be too thick. This closure may be of the side to side or overlapping type and may be used in leatherwork, fabric, or in the center of the shoe and in many other cases. This device may be used in the first thickness of leather or any other support by reducing or hollowing out a part of this thickness, or below the thickness of leather by cutting out this thickness and juxtaposing it below the necessary piece(s) to avoid excessive thickness. But above all a closure by pulling and pressure is used, in order to obtain a simple closure.

There are tightening systems for shoes, in which the upper enclosing the top of the foot is generally open longitudinally and the opening thus defines a portion of external upper and a portion of internal upper. The fastening of the shoe extends between the external part and the internal part of the upper of the shoe. The upper is used to bring together more or less, the left and right parts depending on the degree of tightness desired and to keep the two parts together on top of the foot.

There is a method of tightening the shoe without creating excess thickness formed by at least one tongue joined to the external part of the upper, essentially perpendicular to its edge and an eyelet carried by the other internal part of the upper, in which the edge of each internal and external part includes at least one notch. The tongue has at least one looped part and slides in the eyelet of the internal part and is then fastened down by simple pressure on the notched adhesive locking part on the other external edge opposite the notch where the eyelet remains after pressing on the tongue. The eyelet pivots at the bottom of the notch. This closure does not cause any excess thickness.

One of the problems of this method of fastening lies in the use of the tongue and its eyelet. The tongue part of one edge passes through an eyelet fixed in the other edge to be attached to the notched adhesive locking part. The tongue is often composed of two parts: a looped part to be housed in the notched locking part after being closed on itself and a flat part, so that the eyelet can pivot in the housing of its notch, when the tongue is closed without causing excess thickness, in accordance with earlier Patent No. 0400658. With this method of tightening it is essential to have an eyelet which plays the part of an pulley so that the pressure of the tongue can be exerted in order to obtain a method of closing without excess thickness. There are other closing systems for shoes comprising at least one tongue fixed to one of the edges pulled back from the free edge of the latter and provided with a method of fastening arranged opposite, at least in the area of the free end, designed to work together with additional methods of fastening arranged opposite on the other edge and even on the edge where the tongue is fixed. The tongue being sewn onto one of the edges of the upper, is then closed onto the self adhesive parts.

There is in addition a Patent CH 666 600 A5, in which the two flaps of the upper overlap one on top of the other. Tongues are used that consist of a looped fabric that starts from one upper and closes on the other upper using additional self gripping methods. This closure for shoes avoids having a central tongue which gets cut, moves and is often uncomfortable. This permits easier opening and closing, it covers the instep, but the tongue, which must be fastened to the additional part, is much larger.

One of the problems of this method of fastening lies in the excess thickness it forms above the instep and another problem lies in the adjustment of the tightness, if the foot is too wide, in the latter case, the tongue only occupies the end of the notch and, if the instep is too narrow, the tongue passes over it, which adversely affects the aesthetics of the shoe and accentuates dirty marks caused by the self gripping devices.

There is a Patent 2552 640 which uses a tongue fixed to an upper which consists of an elastic part that forms all or half of the tongue except for its fastening end consisting of a self gripping part which fits into the additional part. This effectively solves the problem of dirt marks or damage to the end of the tongue and the positioning of the tongue. But this method of closure also loses its effectiveness in the holding of the foot, and that adversely affects the aesthetics of the shoe.

One problem is the tongue, which is a flexible sleeve, in the form of an accordion, in which only its fastening end has been provided with self-sealing devices. This fastening forms folds on the top of the shoe that are not very attractive and its elastic part, which is used for closing, becomes damaged, stretches, gets cut and becomes weak. This elastic part is located right on the instep and is subjected to various twisting and pressures.

By means of the invention, the principle of the tongue can be used in another way while maintaining the appearance and retaining a method of tightening without excess thickness, with or without an eyelet, in the first case. This method of fastening can be used in leather goods, shoes, fabrics, clothing, backpacks, jumpsuits, in the nautical field and in many other areas.

The invention is therefore a closing device that is applicable to all media, clothing, fabrics, leather goods, shoes and all known media and with all known and suitable materials. The closing device consists of at least two edges and in at least one of the edges is a tongue fitted with a self gripping fabric and provided on at least the other opposite edge with additional means of self-gripping. Firstly an elastic part is attached by one end to an anchor point under the said first edge and to the other longitudinal end of the elastic part is glued or sown a tongue, while at the other free end of the tongue it emerges outside the first edge through a button hole or an external groove formed in the outside leather or other support of the said edge, at a certain distance from its outer edge. So that pulling on the tongue extends the elastic part which enables the tongue to extend outside the slot and be applied and locked by simple pressure at least on the additional part of the notch on the opposite edge.

The notches may be on the two edges, in which case the tongue is applied, firstly to the notch formed on the edge where the tongue commences and in a second movement to the notch of the opposite edge, in order to maintain a tight closure. The tongue extends for at least, or nearly half, of the lengths on the inner and outer sides without creating excess thickness. The locking part under the said first edge is arranged at a distance such that it can retain a sufficient length of tongue under the said first edge and also the elastic part must be at a certain distance from the slit in the rest state so that with maximum tension of the elastic part, the non visible part of the tongue under the first edge extends outside the slit without the elastic part showing where it passes through the slit. The tongue is pulled in such a way as to position the tongue at the maximum position in its housing formed by one of the notches. The notches and the tongue are provided with self gripping systems so they can be fastened by simple pressure.

As an example, the notches are formed from a hooked type fabric and the tongue is made from a fabric of the looped type on the tongue. After tightening, the tongue is lodged in one or other of the respective notches. Such tightening permits simple, easy and aesthetic adjustment and avoids dirty marks appearing on the notches. The closing surface is provided with adequate self gripping systems, so that the tongue holds the foot. Less of the elastic area is used, only part of the lateral force of the elastic is used in the case of a closure for shoes. Adjustment is simple and suitable for each point of tightening.

According to one variant more suitable for sports shoes, the tongue and its elastic may be fixed under the said edge at a fixing point and when pulling on the elastic, the free part of the tongue passes through a lateral slit in the said free outer edge, then slides in a loop fixed to a notch or on the said opposite edge and is extended and attached to the additional part of the notch in the first edge. The tongue is sufficiently wide to extend and be attached to itself. A piece of fabric may be placed under the tongue and sown except for its end to provide support and permit extension in the same axis.

A detail concerns the notches which can be made in two different ways: either by elimination of the thickness of the top of the leather and gluing the fabric fastening part to each of the notches or by a cutout in the leather, or by means of any other medium corresponding to the notches. In the latter cases, a fabric fastening support and a lining mask under the adhesive fastening fabrics are glued or sown underneath the locations of the notches. The principle is to avoid excessive thickness so that the tongue can be housed in this notch without causing extra thickness. The notches may be of the loop or hook type depending on the part covered by the tongue. The principal function is its fastening by additional means of the VELCRO, or other type.

As an example of a closure without a loop, if the tongue is sown and glued at one end, over a fastening length of at least one tenth of its length, to an elastic fabric, for example if its length is 16 centimeters, the visible part of the tongue is 14.5 cm before stretching and passing through the slit. The elastic fabric permits a maximum extension of the tongue of 1.5 cm depending on the length and quality of the elastic, which is sown and glued in its extension under the internal part and lined underneath with a lining. The elastic fabric is the same width as the tongue. The extension of the elastic fabric may be more or less, depending on the force of the foot.

This closure can be adapted for overlapping closures, in this case, a tongue starts from one edge and passes through a slit. The slit is positioned at any distance from the free part of the said edge and, after pulling, the tongue is applied and is closed by pressure on at least one notch, on the opposite edge, for a closure of the so-called overlapping type.

As an example, for a shoe without a tongue, the edge where the tongue is located would be wider in order to cover the instep and would pass under the other edge, so that the edge where the tongue starts passes under the other edge after closing.

In a variant of this design, a tongue is also fastened down on a notch where the tongue starts on a notch in the opposite edge, that is to say on two notches placed opposite each other on the two edges, for a so-called edge to edge closure.

The tongue is also generally fixed to the same edge, but in a more aesthetic variant, the said tongue could very well start from the other edge and use alternative closures or not, depending on the requirement of fashion and the medium.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description given below, relating to the drawings which illustrate the invention as a non-restrictive example.

The closure of the invention is to bring together the opposite edges either by overlapping or edge to edge, with the aid of a tongue which starts from one edge only. The tension exerted on the tongue leads to extension of the elastic part which enables the tongue to be extended outside the slit and to be applied and to be fastened by pressure on the notched area of the same edge and/or the opposite edge, without the elastic part showing where it passes through the slit. The elastic fabric sown to the tongue enables the tongue to adjust itself on the notches and to be held in place.

The second technique is a tongue which emerges through a slit made in the lateral outer edge and not on the top of the leather, after pulling the tongue passes through an eyelet or loop placed on the opposite edge or through a notch to prevent excessive thickness and the tongue is lowered to be fastened on the other edge on the additional part of its notch. The tongue and the notch of the said edge are provided with self gripping systems. This technique increases the strength of this fastening.

FIG. 1 illustrates a closure with two edges, of the edge to edge type, comprising at least one tongue in at least one edge used, as an example, for a shoe in which the fabric parts of the fastening of the notches of the two edges are sown and glued underneath the outer leather. The notches of the two edges are opposite each other. By pulling on the free part of the tongue, the tension exerted on the elastic part enables the tongue, which is provided with self gripping systems, to extend outside the slit and be applied and to be fastened by pressure on the notches provided on the two edges.

FIG. 2 shows the closure according to FIG. 1, with the two edges brought together.

FIG. 3 illustrates a closure with two edges, comprising at least one tongue starting from at least one edge for a so-called overlapping closure used, for example, for a shoe of which the fabric part of the fastening is sown underneath the outside leather in the position of the notch, on the opposite edge of the tongue only. In a variant, the shoe may comprise several tongues and therefore several notches on the opposite edge, in the shoe. The slit or buttonholes are located at any distance from the free part of the said edge. The principle of closure is the same as in the previous figures.

FIG. 4 shows the closure, according to FIG. 3, with the two edges brought together.

FIGS. 1 and 2 partially show an edge 1 and an edge 2, of an upper of a shoe, each comprising three notched cutouts 3, an additional fabric element of the fastening type 6 has been sown under edge 1 and under edge 2. The notches 3 of the edges 1 and 2 are opposite each other. These notches 3 enable the tongues 5 to be positioned in their housing respectively. The tongue 5 comprises a looped fabric 7 glued or sown under the whole tongue 5. A longitudinal elastic element 9 is fixed at one end, for a certain length, at an anchorage point 8 in and under the internal part of edge 2, and at its other end a tongue 5 is attached by sowing and gluing. The anchorage point 8 under the edge 2 provides a sufficient length of tongue 5, and the elastic part 9 must be at a certain distance from the slit 4. The free part of the tongue 5 emerges from outside the edge 2 through a slit 4. The length of the elastic part 9 is determined so as to obtain, after pulling, a maximum extension of the tongue, without the elastic part 9 appearing outside the slit.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the same principle of fastening mentioned above, with two edges 1 and 2 but of the overlapping type and with the difference that the slit 4 where the tongue 5 passes may be created at any length from the edge 2, pulling on the tongue 5 causes an extension of the elastic part 9 which allows the tongue to extend outside the slit and be fastened by means of its looped fabric part 7 glued all along the tongue 5 to the hooked part 6 of the notch 3 positioned on the opposite edge 2. However, two notches 3 could be used on the two edges 1, 2 opposite to each other.

The shapes of the notches 3 of the edge 1 receiving the tongues 5 were cut out in the leather material of the edge 1, then a fabric of the hooked type 6 was sown underneath, all over the surface of the notches 3. The principle is that the pulling of the tongue 5 and the pressure on the notch 3, by a self gripping method of locking, permits the edge 2 to pass under the edge 1 after closing. This closure, suitable for a shoe, eliminates the need for a central tongue as it opens like a slipper.

FIG. 5 partially show an edge 1 and an edge 2, of an upper of a shoe, comprising an additional fabric part of the hooked type 6 that has been attached under the edge 2. The notches 3 in the edges 1 and 2 are opposite to each other. These notches 3 permit the tongues 5 respectively to be positioned in their housing. The tongue 5 comprises a looped fabric 7 glued or sown under the whole of the tongue 5. A longitudinal elastic part 9 is fixed at one end, for a certain length, to an anchorage point 8 in and under the inner part of the edge 2 and at its other end a tongue 5 is attached by sowing and gluing. The anchorage point 8 under the edge 2 provides a sufficient length of tongue 5 and the elastic part 9 must be at a certain distance from the slit 4. The free part of the tongue 5 emerges outside the edge 2 through a slit 4 made on the lateral side. The length of the elastic part 9 is determined so as to obtain, after pulling, a maximum extension of the tongue, without the elastic part 9 appearing outside the slit 4. The tension exerted extends the tongue 5 which slides in an eyelet or loop 10, placed in a notch 3 of the edge 1 and is then applied to the additional part 6 of the notch 3 of the edge 2. 

1. The closing device concerns a flexible and adjustable fastening between two edges opposite to each other or overlapping, in particular for a shoe, clothing, fabric, leather goods and sports items, of the type consisting of at least one tongue (5) and two edges (1, 2), the tongue (5) being provided with a self gripping fabric textile (7) and being attached to a first edge (2), characterized in that firstly an elastic part (9) is fixed at an anchorage point (8) under the said first edge (2) and the tongue (5) is attached at the other longitudinal end of the elastic part (9) and secondly the free part of the tongue (5) emerges outside the first edge (2) through an external buttonhole or a slit (4) formed in the said first edge (2), so that by pulling on the said tongue (5), the tension exerted on the tongue (5) causes an extension of the elastic part (9), which permits the tongue (5) to extend outside the slit (4) and to be applied and fastened by simple pressure on an additional connecting part (6) of a notch (3) in one of the two edges (2, 1) and in that the anchorage part (8) under the said first edge (2) is placed at a distance such that it provides a sufficient length of tongue (5) under the said first edge (2) and furthermore in that the elastic part (9) must be at a certain distance from the slit (4) in the rest state under the first edge (2), so that during maximum tension in the elastic part (9), the non visible part of the tongue (5) situated under the edge (2) is extended outside the slit (4) without the elastic part (9) appearing where it passes through the slit (4), so that the extension of the tongue (5) permits suitable and simple adjustment and tightening.
 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tongue (5) is only extended on the additional anchorage part (6) of the notch (3) provided on the opposite edge (1).
 3. A device according to claim 1, intended for an edge to edge closure characterized in that it comprises notches (3) situated opposite to each other on the two edges (2, 1) fitted with additional parts 6 to which the tongue (5), is applied.
 4. A device according to claims 1 and 3 intended for an edge to edge closure, characterized in that the notched part (3) of the edge (2) extends closer to the slit (4) so that the tongue (5), which emerges through the slit (4) of the edge (2), is pressed down on the additional parts (6) of the notches (3) placed opposite to each other on the two edges (2, 1).
 5. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tongue (5) extends over the edge (1) and passes through a loop (10) fixed in a notch (3) produced in the edge (1) and is pressed down on an additional hooked part (6) of the notch (3) produced on the edge (2).
 6. A closing device according to claims 1 and 5 characterized in that the slit (4) is formed in the outer lateral free edge of the said edge (2) in order to permit the tongue (5) to be extended and to slide in the loop (10), then be pressed down on the additional hooked part (6) formed in the notch (3) of the edge (2).
 7. A closing device according to claim 1 intended for a closure comprising two edges of the overlapping type, characterized in that the buttonholes or the slit (4) is positioned at a distance from the free part of the edge (2) and in that the tongue (5) emerging from the said slit (4) is applied only to the notched part (3) of the additional fabric (6) of the other edge (1), so that the edge (2), after closing of the said tongue (5) passes under the edge (1). 